My one year old spayed female GSD has scratched herself since I had her at 10 weeks old.
I have been told it could be an allergy to her food but I have tried around 10 types of kibble for this and her vomiting problem.
I think I have figured out the vomiting problem, by feeding her three times instead of once a day and by feeding her all-natural kibble (no preservatives, animal by-products, etc.).
I was hoping this would cure her itching also but it hasn't.
She doesn't have fleas. Doesn anyone have any thoughts on this?
It does sound like a food allergy to me as well. Which kibble have you tried, and have you considered a raw diet?
Could also be an environmental allergy. Try giving her benadryl (dosage by weight is on the bottle) and see if the itching/scratching stops. If it doesn't, it could be a learned behavior and she's doing it compulsively. If it does, she's allergic to something, and I would use the process of elimination to figure out what it is.
Dan Oas Webboard User Reg: 09-21-2004
Posts: 190
Loc: MI
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change food
Solid Gold seems to have done the trick for my sister's GSD suffering from same symptoms, plus
a bleeding wallet from vet bills until changing.
John DeKruyff Webboard User Reg: 08-14-2001
Posts: 238
Loc: California
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I have tried around 10 types of kibble Mike, no offense, but there is NO good kibble!
Try feeding a raw diet, or at least giving your dog some Raw Meaty Bones (RMB), like chicken or turkey backs and necks.
I will look into the raw diet some more but I just don't think I have the time. I barely have time to shop for my own food. I will try the Benadryl and different foods.
I don't like the vet's options of trying prescription drugs until we find one that works. I just don't want the dog on a drug for the rest of her life.
One of my dogs always had a problem with itching, even on a raw diet. It would get worse in the winter. This year I've been running a humidifier in the house- he sleeps in at night- and his skin is MUCH better. Just think how much drier our skin is in the winter, even with lotion! I also have a dog who cannot tolerate corn in her kibble at all! It is hard to find one without, but if you can't do raw, you might look for that. I use Costco brand chicken,rice and veggies and she is great on that- if you are in Costco territory.
Brian Jackson Webboard User Reg: 03-02-2004
Posts: 125
Loc: Lakewood, WA
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Mike,
I have had my dog on a raw diet since he was 8 weeks old and this winter he is scratching like crazy. No noticable dry skin just scratching, must be the dry air.
My trainer told me about a topical spray that works really well, here is the link to the only place i could find it on the web: http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=9510. They have very good service and delivery time was fast and inexpensive.
Do you guys live in the South? I live in Fla and, since we are having unseasonably warm weather, I think it's the grass and the pollens starting to come out that are bothering my Golden. He is just miserable! We just switched food, he's been on Benadryl and Cephalexin for 2 wks, we've bathed him with Mylaseb shampoo, and the scratching/itching persists. His hind leg is raw and I have not seen fleas on him anywhere. May try to get to the vet for a cortizone shot this week to see if that helps relieve it a bit.
Proud Mom of Abbey (aka "Moo") - my true soul mate...I miss you terribly and will see you at the bridge...
Brian Jackson Webboard User Reg: 03-02-2004
Posts: 125
Loc: Lakewood, WA
Offline
Kate,
I live in the Pacific Northwest and we have had some pretty dry weather, humidity wise. I too have checked for fleas but none found. Right now I am sticking with the Relief spray until it gets to a point where it no longer is helping and then i will throw some money at my vet <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> .
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